World’s largest ship graveyard in bangladesh continues environmental destruction despite new safety standards

On the mudflats of Sitakunda, Bangladesh, the earth trembles daily as massive steel sections crash down from the hulking remains of decommissioned cargo ships and ocean liners. This coastal region houses the world’s largest ship graveyard, where local workers dismantle by hand the final remnants of vessels that once carried over 90 percent of global trade across the world’s oceans.

The ship-breaking industry in South Asia represents what environmental advocates call “toxic colonialism” – the practice of wealthy nations exporting their environmental hazards to poorer countries. Despite the implementation of new international safety standards designed to protect both workers and the environment, the beaches of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan continue to serve as dumping grounds for the world’s aging fleet of approximately 68,000 commercial vessels.

The dismantling process releases toxic materials including asbestos, heavy metals, and oil residues directly into coastal ecosystems, contaminating soil and water sources that local communities depend on for their livelihoods. Workers, often lacking proper safety equipment, face daily exposure to hazardous substances while earning minimal wages to feed their families.

This ongoing environmental injustice highlights the global shipping industry’s failure to address the toxic legacy of maritime trade. While international regulations exist on paper, enforcement remains weak, allowing ship owners to continue sending their vessels to South Asian beaches where environmental and labor protections are minimal, perpetuating a cycle of pollution and exploitation in some of the world’s most vulnerable coastal communities.